‘Harper, is it?’ I asked. Harper was an Irish mason with a premises a few miles away at Bewcastle. He had more work than he needed but it was hard to begrudge him. He was always full of laughs and tales. Fairfax was always fond of him.

‘Aye, Ronan Harper. Came over to build the base and nivver left.’ He rubbed his big broad chin. ‘The Kinmont solicitor’s had a call. Said the money were there to fix the place up. It’ll have to wait until the weather clears, like.’

Cordelia’s eyes burned into my back. I felt like a translator.

‘Kinmont tomb was the one got taken out by the tree,’ I said. ‘There’s only one Kinmont left and he lives away so local matters are handled by his solicitor. He’ll be relieved, no doubt. Last time he came up it had no happy memories for him. Said flat out he wouldn’t want to be buried in the thing. Got a life in Oxford, so I hear. Left the village before the war so it’s no loss.’

‘And somebody’s paying to have it fixed?’ asked Cordelia, quietly.

‘Aye, somebody with a big heart and big pockets. Said it was wrong to have him or the church pay out for what were an act of God. I were hoping to get a name out of him but he had to be off and I only lets myself have one pint after work. I likes to be home. Felicity and my fireside, that’ll do for me.’

Cordelia’s lips had become a line. She was staring at the floor like there were a stain on it.

‘Chivers aint been up to you yet,’ said John, cigarette hanging at his lip and his hands on the edges of his chair. ‘Man’s an imbecile.’

I’d never heard him say ‘imbecile’ before. He might have been trying to impress.

‘I’m not sure I’ve much to tell him,’ said Cordelia. She looked at me enquiringly, daring to be contradicted. Was it a test? What did she want me to say?

‘He won’t put no more hours in than he needs to,’ said John. ‘Not exactly Sherlock Holmes. And it all seems pretty straightforward about poor Fairfax. There’ll be an inquest right enough but that’ll be open and shut. You’re as well to stay out of it. Felicity’s said she’ll make a statement but what’s it going to say? He left in a rainstorm and never came back? Doubt that will be much help.’

I stayed where I was, facing away from them both, watching her in the reflected surface of the window. She seemed to be struggling with herself. Looked like she was having a fight inside.